We introduce the Fibonacci bimodal maps on the interval and show that their two turning points are both in the same minimal invariant Cantor set. Two of these maps with the same orientation have the same kneading sequences and, among bimodal maps without central returns, they exhibit turning points with the strongest recurrence as possible.; CNPq-Brasil[304517/2005-4]; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

We examined the effects of acoustic bandwidth on bimodal benefit for speech recognition in adults with a cochlear implant (CI) in one ear and low-frequency acoustic hearing in the contralateral ear. The primary aims were to (1) replicate with a steeper filter roll-off to examine the low-pass bandwidth required to obtain bimodal benefit for speech recognition and expand results to include different signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and talker genders, (2) determine whether the bimodal benefit increased with acoustic low-pass bandwidth and (3) determine whether an equivalent bimodal benefit was obtained with acoustic signals of similar low-pass and pass band bandwidth, but different center frequencies. Speech recognition was assessed using words presented in quiet and sentences in noise (+10, +5 and 0 dB SNRs). Acoustic stimuli presented to the nonimplanted ear were filtered into the following bands: <125, 125–250, <250, 250–500, <500, 250–750, <750 Hz and wide-band (full, nonfiltered bandwidth). The primary findings were: (1) the minimum acoustic low-pass bandwidth that produced a significant bimodal benefit was <250 Hz for male talkers in quiet and for female talkers in multitalker babble, but <125 Hz for male talkers in background noise...

Gaze-independent event-related potential (ERP) based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) yield relatively low BCI performance and traditionally employ unimodal stimuli. Bimodal ERP-BCIs may increase BCI performance due to multisensory integration or summation in the brain. An additional advantage of bimodal BCIs may be that the user can choose which modality or modalities to attend to. We studied bimodal, visual-tactile, gaze-independent BCIs and investigated whether or not ERP components’ tAUCs and subsequent classification accuracies are increased for (1) bimodal vs. unimodal stimuli; (2) location-congruent vs. location-incongruent bimodal stimuli; and (3) attending to both modalities vs. to either one modality. We observed an enhanced bimodal (compared to unimodal) P300 tAUC, which appeared to be positively affected by location-congruency (p = 0.056) and resulted in higher classification accuracies. Attending either to one or to both modalities of the bimodal location-congruent stimuli resulted in differences between ERP components, but not in classification performance. We conclude that location-congruent bimodal stimuli improve ERP-BCIs, and offer the user the possibility to switch the attended modality without losing performance.

Introduction:
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a popular method of treating unresectable liver tumours by the use of a high frequency, alternating electrical current that heats and destroys tumour cells. The size of the ablation is limited by localised charring of adjacent tissue that prevents further conduction of the radiofrequency current. In the clinical setting, this results in increased rates of local recurrence in tumours that are greater than 3 cm in diameter as multiple, overlapping ablations need to be performed to treat the one tumour.
To overcome this problem, a modified form of RFA called Bimodal Electric Tissue Ablation (BETA) has been created. BETA adds a direct electrical current to the alternating radiofrequency current, thus establishing its bimodal character. When direct currents are used in biological tissues, water is transferred from anode to cathode by a process called electro-osmosis. By attaching the cathode to the radiofrequency electrode, water is attracted to the area thus preventing tissue desiccation and charring.
The BETA circuit has been constructed and tested using a porcine model. The aims of the studies are to confirm that larger ablations can be produced with the BETA system and that it is safe to use in an animal model. Three studies have been performed to test these aims in porcine liver.
Methods:
The first study was designed to compare sizes of the ablation produced between standard RFA and the BETA circuit. This was followed by a long-term study to assess associated changes to liver function and pathological changes within the liver as well as identifying any other treatment related morbidity. The third study assessed the difference in ablation size and safety aspects when the positive electrode of the direct current circuitry was moved from small surface area under the skin to a large surface area on the skin.
Results:
Ablations with significantly larger diameters are created with the BETA circuit using a multi-tine needle (49.55 mm versus 27.78 mm...

The Curramulka Gabbronorite on Yorke Peninsula, southeastern Gawler Craton has an emplacement age of 1589 ± 5 Ma. This is similar to previously determined ages for Arthurton Granite (1582 ± 7 Ma), Tickera Granite (ca 1600 - 1575 Ma), regional alteration, the Moonta - Wallaroo mineralisation (ca 1585 Ma) and localised deformation (Tiparra Deformation). Mesoproterozoic bimodal plutonism is interpreted to have resulted from mafic underplating, emplacement of mafic magmas during lithospheric attenuation and enhanced high heat flow assisting in melting of the lower crust to form the broadly A-type Arthurton and Tickera Granites. Plutonism either directly or indirectly created advective fluid-flow to form Cu - Au mineralisation in the Moonta - Wallaroo area. The nature and characteristics of Mesoproterozoic mafic bodies on the Gawler Craton are poorly known. The Curramulka Gabbronorite has a continental tholeiitic composition and igneous layering that is partly of cumulus origin but also contains magmatic segregations formed by fractionation. Some of these segregations have provided zircons for dating. This igneous layering is overprinted by two foliations of tectonic origin: the first is interpreted to be coeval with magma emplacement and the second with conjugate shearing accompanied by retrogression.; W. L. Zang...

Background: Bimodal electric tissue ablation is a novel variation to standard radiofrequency ablation that produces significantly larger ablations by the addition of a direct electrical current. The negative electrode is attached to the radiofrequency current and the positive electrode is placed nearby. It has been identified that an electrolytic injury can occur at the positive electrode site. It is suggested that by increasing the surface area that is in contact with the positive electrode, the risk of tissue injury is reduced. This hypothesis was tested in a pig model. Methods: Thirty-six ablations were carried out in the livers of six pigs (six ablations per pig). Two were standard radiofrequency ablation controls and two were carried out with positive electrode attached to a scalpel blade. Two were carried out with positive electrode attached to a grounding pad. After 48 h, liver was harvested and the ablation sizes were compared. Skin biopsies were taken from the scalpel site and one from the pad site and examined histopathologically. Results: The scalpel blade ablations were significantly larger than controls and the grounding pad ablations (P < 0.001). The grounding pad ablation was significantly larger than controls. The scalpel blade skin site showed full-thickness tissue injury. The grounding pad site appeared microscopically normal. Conclusion: By increasing the surface area that connects to the positive electrode...

BACKGROUND: Bimodal electric tissue ablation (BETA) is a new technique that uses the direct current in electrolysis to improve the efficacy of radio frequency (RF) ablation. It was hypothesized that attaching the cathode of the electrolytic circuit to the RF electrode will increase the tissue hydration, therefore delaying tissue desiccation during ablation. Consequently, the ablation process can continue for a longer period of time and produce larger ablations. This hypothesis was tested by reversing the polarity of the electrolytic circuit, which theoretically would cause tissue desiccation and therefore produce smaller ablations. This new setup is called reversed polarity bimodal electric ablation (RP-BEA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three types of ablations standard radiofrequency ablation (RFA), BETA, and RP-BEA) were tested in a pig liver model. In BETA and RP-BEA, 9 V of direct current were provided for 10 min, after which the rf generator were switched on and both electrical circuits allowed to run concurrently. In all three setups, ablations were continued until "roll-off." The size of ablation was measured and compared with each other. RESULTS: The duration of ablation was significantly shorted in RP-BEA compared with standard RFA and BETA (48 s verus 148 s and 84 s...

Background: This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of interleukin-2 (IL2) for use in cancer therapy, initially for renal cell carcinoma and later for melanoma. IL2 therapy for cancer has stood the test of time, with continued widespread use in Europe, parts of Asia, and the US. Clinical complete responses are variably reported at 5%–20% for advanced malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, with strong durable responses and sustained long-term 5–10-year survival being typical if complete responses are generated. Methods: The literature was reviewed for the actions and clinical effects of IL2 on subsets of T cells. The influence of IL2 on clinical efficacy was also sought. Results: The review revealed that IL2 is capable of stimulating different populations of T cells in humans to induce either T effector or T regulatory responses. This apparent "functional paradox" has confounded a clear understanding of the mechanisms behind the clinical effects that are observed during and following administration of IL2 therapy. An average complete response rate of around 7% in small and large clinical trials using IL2 for advanced renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma has been shown from a recent review of the literature. Conclusion: This review considers the published literature concerning the actions and emerging clinical effects of IL2 therapy...

BACKGROUND: In bimodal electric tissue ablation (BETA), the cathode of the DC circuit is attached to the radiofrequency (RF) electrode to increase the surrounding tissue hydration. This will delay tissue desiccation and allowing the ablation process to continue for a longer period of time before "roll-off" occurs, resulting in larger ablations compared with standard radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Previous research showed that attaching the anode to the skin using electrosurgical grounding pads would reduce the efficacy of BETA because of the high electrical resistivity of the skin. This study investigated the ablation size produced when the anode was attached to the peritoneum (BETA-peritoneum) and the liver (BETA-liver) respectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anode of the DC circuit in BETA was attached to the peritoneum and the liver in a pig model using ECG dots. In BETA, 9 V of DC was provided for 10 min, after which the radiofrequency generator were switched on and both electrical circuits allowed to run concurrently until "roll-off." The size of ablations produced was compared to when the anode attached to the skin (BETA-skin) and standard RFA, respectively. The sites of anode placement were examined for local tissue injury. RESULTS: The transverse diameters in BETA-peritoneum and BETA-liver were significantly larger compared with BETA-skin and standard RFA...

New processes for the production of polymeric dispersions with high solids content and low viscosity were developed, investigated and characterized. The specifications required for the desired application of paper coating, which constitutes one of the major innovative aspects of this thesis, requires in average particle sizes smaller than 200 nm. This particle size is significantly smaller than obtained in previous work in this area. The main objective of this project was to increase the solids content of existing products from ~50 to ~60 wt% while keeping the viscosity at low levels (< 1200 mPa•s at 20 s-1).
In order to produce high solids content latexes with low viscosity, bimodal particle size distributions were resorted to. To obtain highest packing fraction, the small particle size population should be about 7 times smaller than the large particles, bringing the size of the small particles to less than 30 nm.
Modified (micro)emulsion processes were developed in order to produce small particle size latex with reduced surfactant concentration and increased solids content. The large particle population was developed using a semi-batch emulsion polymerization process, simulating a product that is commercially available (~52 wt% solids content and viscosity of ~500 mPa•s at 20 s-1). To increase the solids content of this product up to 60 wt%...

We have developed a dynamic atomic force microscopy (AFM) method based on the simultaneous excitation of the first two flexural modes of the cantilever. The instrument, called a bimodal atomic force microscope, allows us to resolve the structural components of antibodies in both monomer and pentameric forms. The instrument operates in both high and low quality factor environments, i.e., air and liquids. We show that under the same experimental conditions, bimodal AFM is more sensitive to compositional changes than amplitude modulation AFM. By using theoretical and numerical methods, we study the material contrast sensitivity as well as the forces applied on the sample during bimodal AFM operation.; This work was financially supported by the European Commission (FORCETOOL, NMP4-CT-2004-013684), Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MAT2006-03833) and Comunidad de Madrid (S-05-05/MAT/0283).; Peer reviewed